Zero stop device ten key calculating and adding machines

ABSTRACT

A ten key calculating and adding machine has a set pin carriage displaceable transversely beneath the keyboard. A plurality of value selector members are actuated by the set pin carriage. A flexible band has a plurality of longitudinally spaced lugs along the center of one face and the lugs are engageable by the slides in their zero positions so as to constitute a zero stop member. The flexible band is slideably guided along a guide member fixed within the machine and has one end attached to the carriage and the other end to a spring so as to displace the carriage.

United States Patent [1 1 Weskamp 1 Aug. 7, 1973 [54] ZERO STOP DEVICE TEN KEY 2,486,959 11/1949 Mehan 235/60.28 CALCULATING AND ADDING MACHINES 3,098,608 7/1963 Dombrowski... 235/60 TK 3,526,356 9/l970 Hesse et al 235/60 R [75] Inventor: Gerhard Weskamp, Thalfingen,

Germany Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky [73] Assignee: galther Burgmaschlnen, GmbH, Atwmey Edmund M. Jaskiewicz erstetten, ermany [22] Filed: May 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 251,437 [57] ABSTRACT A ten key calculating and adding machine has a set pin [30] Foreign Application Priority DI"a carriage displaceable transversely beneath the key- M 8 971 G P 21 22 783 8 board. A plurality of value selector members are actuay many ated by the set pin carriage. A flexible band has a plurality of longitudinally spaced lugs along the center of 235/60 one face and the lugs are engag'eable by the slides in [58] c ,6 (C60 28 their zero positions so as to constitute a zero stop mem- Ie 52 60 49 60 her. The flexible band is slideably guided along a guide member fixed within the machine and has one end at- [56] References cued tached to the carriage and the other end to a spring so as to displace the carriage.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAus 71975 3 750 4 sum 1 or 2 ZERO STOP DEVICE TEN KEY CALCULATING AND ADDING MACHINES The present invention relates to a ten key calculating and adding machine, more particularly, to a zero stop device for locking the valve selector members in their zero positions.

A ten key calculating and adding machine is generally provided with a ten key keyboard by means of which values are introduced into the machine and set pin carriage which is displaceable transversely within the machine and disposed below the keyboard. Such a machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2 486 959 issued Nov. 1, 1949 and, in particular, reference is made to column 8, lines 20-51 of this patent.

In known machines of this type, the width dimensions of the machine on the left side thereof, as viewed by the operator, are determined exclusively by the zero stop mechanism arranged within the machine. As each value is introduced into the machine by actuation of thevcorresponding key on the keyboard, the carriage will be stepped to the left upon each actuation of 'a key by a mechanism known in the art. A locking plate or some other construction of a zero stop bar is provided which will also move with the carriage out of the path of the value selector members or slides as they must move to print the figure set up by the keys. All of the value slides to the left of the highest digit to be printed will thus be held stationary by the zero stop bar. When the carriage has been stepped to the extreme left of its limit of travel by actuation of the keys, the zero stop bar will still oppose the advance of the value selector slide at the extreme left of the unit. In order to accommodate this zero stop bar in its extreme position upon the maximum displacement of the carriage to the left, considerable space must be provided at the left side of the machine as viewed by the operator. Thus the entire machine is wider on its left side by the width of the zero stop bar.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved zero stop bar device for a ten key calculating and adding machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ten key calculating and adding machine having a zero stop bar mounted on the set pin carriage in such a mannerthat the overall lateral dimension of the machine is substantially reduced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved zero stop bar device for a ten key calculating and adding machine which enables the elements of the machine to be arranged in a more compact and effective relationship within the enclosure of the machine.

The objects of the present invention are achieved and the disadvantages of the prior art as described above are eliminated by the ten key calculating and adding machine of the present invention. This machine essentially comprises a set pin carriage disposed under the keyboard so as to be displaceable transversely of the machine. A plurality of longitudinally disposed value selector members are actuated by the set pin carriage. A zero stop bar is provided in the form of a flexible band which has a plurality of longitudinally spaced cams along the center of one of its faces. The cams are spaced to be engageable by the value members so as to define a zero stop or locking member. A guide element is fixed within the machine and defines a path through 2' which the flexible band moves as the set pin carriage is progressively displaced to the left. The flexible band is guided around a roller so that as the set pin carriage is displaced, additional lateral space to accommodate the flexible zero stop bar is not required.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reference to the accompanyin'g description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, which are exemplary, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view through a ten key calculating and adding machine incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view taken in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 1 and showing the set pin carriage in its normal or initial position;

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective and schematic representation of the flexible zero stop bar of the present invention in its normal position; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing the zero stop bar displaced by half of a tens division for totalling and sub-totalling operations.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like refer erice symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

As may be seen in all of the figures of the drawings, a flexible zero stop bar I is provided in the form of a unitary elongated strip of a thermo-plastic' synthetic resin material. The flexible band I may also comprise other materials such as a thin metal band.

A plurality of value selector members 2 in the form of slides orracks are longitudinally disposed in the machine and a corresponding plurality of cams 3 are fixed along the longitudinal center of one face of the band. The cams 3 correspond in number to the slides 2 and are spaced to correspond to the spacing between the slides as may be seen in FIG. 2. The cams are mounted in the central portion of the band I so that shoulders 4 are formed along the longitudinal edges of the band.

The flexible band is guided on all sides thereof in a guide element 5 preferably made of a thermo-plastic synthetic resin material. The band is guided between a plurality of hook-shaped lugs 7 positioned along the longitudinal edges of the band and in staggered relationship with each other. Theguide element 5 is attached to a frame 15 of the machine as illustrated in FIG. 1 by means of a plurality of pins 6 positioned laterally on the guide element.

The flexible band 1 has one end connected to a set pin carriage 14 by means of a bolt 16 extending out- 'wardly from the carriage and has its other end attached to a spring 17 so as to be pulled by the spring to displace the set pin carriage l4toward the left side of the machine as viewed by the operator. In a manner as known in the art, as each value is introduced into the machine by depression of a key, the set pin carriage 14 is moved a tens position to the left. Before any values are introduced into the machine the valve members 2 occupy their normal or zero positions as indicated at 2' in FIG. 3. However, upon the introduction of a value into each slide 2, the slide will be released into a position corresponding to that value. The selector slides 2 positioned to the left of the highest tens value will be held in their zero position by their shoulders 8 abutting cams 3 positioned in the path of their movement.

To permit total and sub total operations of the machine, the zero stop bar 1 with the set pin carriage attached thereto is positioned rear-wardly by a half of an increment or one half the distance between two successive tens positions through controls known in the art and not illustrated in the drawings. in this position, as shown in FIG. 4 the cams 3 will be aligned with the lugs 4 and the selector slides 2 can then pass through the spaces 9 which are defined between the cams and successive lugs 7.

Positioned laterally of the selector slides 2 and outside of the range of these slides is a roller 10 mounted on a shaft 11 fixedly attached to the frame of the machine. The flexible band 1 is guided around the roll in such a manner that its shoulders 4 rest upon peripheral surface 12 disposed on both sides of an annular recess 13 which receives the cams 3.

It is therefore apparent that by guiding the flexible stop bar 1 around the roller 10 as shown in FIGS. 2-4, the width of the machine on its left side in the area of the keyboard requires considerably less space than previously known machines. The calculating machine incorporating the present invention requires only slightly more space than the displaceable set pin carriage in its extreme left position. The flexibility of the zero stop bar permits a compact arrangement of the parts while enabling the calculating machine to carry out all of its normal operations. 7

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ten key calculating and adding machine, the

combination of a keyboard, a set pin carriage under said keyboard and displaceable transversely of the machine, a plurality of longitudinally disposed value selector members actuated by said set pin carriage, a flexible band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced cams along the center of a face thereof, said cams being engageable by said slides to define a zero stop member, and a guide element fixed within the machine and slide ably receiving said flexible band therein.

2. In a ten key calculating and adding machine, as claimed in claim 1 and a roller mounted within the machine laterally of said value members and said ban being guided around said roller. 1

3. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said band is attached to said set pin carriage, and a spring connected to said band to pull said band to displace the carriage attached thereto.

4. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide element has a plurality of staggered hook-shaped lugs along both edges of said band to guide the band therethrough.

5. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 1 and a plurality of fixed pins mounting said guide element within the machine.

6. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 3 and a bolt member extending from said carriage and connected to said flexible band.

7. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band comprises a unitary elongated strip of a thermo-plastic synthetic resin material. 

1. In a ten key calculating and adding machine, the combination of a keyboard, a set pin carriage under said keyboard and displaceable transversely of the machine, a plurality of longitudinally disposed value selector members actuated by said set pin carriage, a flexible band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced cams along the center of a face thereof, said cams being engageable by said slides to define a zero stop member, and a guide element fixed within the machine and slideably receiving said flexible band therein.
 2. In a ten key calculating and adding machine, as claimed in claim 1 and a roller mounted within the machine laterally of said value members and said band being guided around said roller.
 3. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said band is attached to said set pin carriage, and a spring connected to said band to pull said band to displace the carriage attached thereto.
 4. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide element has a plurality of staggered hook-shaped lugs along both edges of said band to guide the band therethrough.
 5. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 1 and a plurality of fixed pins mounting said guide element within the machine.
 6. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 3 and a bolt member extending from said carriage and connected to said flexible band.
 7. In a ten key calculating and adding machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band comprises a unitary elongated strip of a thermo-plastic synthetic resin material. 